This dramatic kitchen by New York designer Miles Redd dares to be different. “I’m sick to death of all-white kitchens,” says Toronto blogger Jen Selk. “You know the ones I mean — vast expanse of white marble, tiled backsplash, bowl of citrus on the counter. It’s boring. I hope kitchens like this signal a shift back to cooking spaces with a little more interest and personality.”

A blue lacquered wall and ceiling fresco are just two of the rich details that give this room personality. The striped tablecloth and green velvet chair add contrast. Gold shell-shaped lights shine on book spines for easy searching.

Orange lacquer adds the wow factor, while a careful mix of styles keeps the room chic. The mahogany and caned seats of the British Colonial Regency-back chairs show nicely against the taupe linen tablecloth, which conceals a hefty antique table. The cloth breaks up the dark wood in the room, making it more inviting, says designer Anne Hepfer.

“Steven Gambrel is my design idol, so it was such a treat to see his home in person,” says New York interior designer Heather Clawson, author of the popular blog, Habitually Chic. “This room is small and dark, but the lacquer walls reflect light beautifully and expand the space. I’m also dying to use the Old World Weavers New Wave fabric in Capri that he used for the drapes. The mix of aqua and gold in the silk adds a glamorous touch to the room.”

Interior designer Amy Lau incorporated pops of colour through fabrics, accessories and furniture in this dramatic New York City apartment. Rectangular patterns on the studded facade of a lacquered American sideboard from the 1970s are continued in a pair of Italian table lamps from the same era.

See more interiors from Amy Lau’s Expressive Modern in our photo gallery.

Homeowner and designer Colette van den Thillart’s London home is a reflection of her signature style: edgy, witty and utterly fearless. In her living room, the walls are striated with charcoal grey and lacquered a dramatic peacock blue to create a glamorous look. Rich green accents enhance the saturated look, while touches of warm white and brushed gold add a fresh and luxe touch to the space.

In this jewelry designer’s New York City apartment, interior designer Amy Lau covered the living room walls with ebony plaster, the perfect foil for the metals and other reflective media the artist uses in her work. Once Lau top-coated the walls in wax, they took on a reflective sheen, as if they were lined with satin ribbon. To marry form and function, she chose a large lacquered coffee table with recessed niches and cubic side tables with sides that lift up like garage doors to uncover inner shelving.

See more interiors from Amy Lau’s Expressive Modern in our photo gallery.

In designer Colette van den Thillart’s London home, a custom-made amoeba-shaped table with a dragged gesso finish complements the sofa and chairs, and accommodates the seating arrangement. “I’m a devotee to organic shapes. They can be more forgiving in space planning,” she says. An affordable rug adds bold pattern to the room.

New York City philanthropist and socialite Brooke Astor approached legendary interior designer Albert Hadley to decorate her Park Avenue apartment’s library with the help of British antique curator Geoffrey Bennison. Immediately Hadley wanted to remove the faux Louis XV wall panelling and paint a rich red lacquer with brass accents. “While it should be classical in spirit, it must also be a room to live in,” he said, adding plenty of lighting and chairs for curling up with a book.

The entrance of this New York apartment packs drama with bold blue walls and pops of red. “I favour rich lacquer colours in hallways with limited natural light,” says New York designer Miles Redd. “The colour for the walls was taken from Yves Klein, and the floor from Lutyens, which was also painted.”